Adolph koehler



(N0 Model.)

A. KOEHLER. AIR SHIP.

No. 605,488. Patented'June 7,1898.

lim-TED STATES.

PATENT Grinch. y

ADOLPH KOEHLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIR-SHIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,438, dated June 7, 1898. Application flied septemtei 17,1897. serial No. 652.043. (No Dioden To all whom t may concern,-

Be it known that I, ADOLPH KOEHLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Ships; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which -it appertains to make and use the same.

My presentA invention relates to improvements in air-ships, and has for its object the production of a simple, durable, and highlyefficient device of this character, a distinguishing feature of which is a plurality of gasbags or balloons mounted in a peculiar manner, to be described, upon the periphery of a circular basket, and designed to be adjusted for the purpose of changing the relative positions of the balloons for the purpose of maintaining the basket in its proper level plane at all times.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 isa per-I.y spective view of my air-ship complete. Fig. 2

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, l indicates a preferably semispherical basket or carriage, preferably formed of several sections 2, composed, respectively, of segments of open-work 3as,for instance,linked armor, chain fabric, or the like-and covered rimrods 4, which when the sections are brought together and secured constitute a circular rim 5, supporting a semispherical open-work basket, as stated. securing the sections may be provided, but preferably consist of ropes or cables 6, extending along the meeting edges of the segmental basket-sections and secured in place by loops 7, passing over the cables 6 and secured at their opposite ends to the contiguous edges of said sections. l

8 indicates what may be termed a balloonrail,7 supported a slight distance above the rim of the basket by rail-brackets 9, and upon which are adj ustably mounted a series of what may be termed balloon-brackets 10,

Any suitable means for l l consisting,respectively, ofa sleeve 11,through which the rail passes and from whichextends VA16 may be of any suitable construction; but I intend to employ light wooden or metallic 4frames 17, over which is stretched a covering 1 8 of any suitable material-f-as, for instance, silk-securely bound to the frame, as by an extra netting 19.

`The foregoing description clearly defines my complete invention in its broadest aspect, and it will be apparent `that the balloons will serve to elevate the ship to the desi-red altitude and that the adjustment of their relative positionswill serve to effect a proper distribution of the wind-resisting surface.

"The employment of a number of comparatively small balloons and the requirements of extremelightness necessitate a fragile construction,"and under extraordinary circumstances there might be liability of destruction of` the air-bags incident both to the force of contact of the air-'currents and the some-what violent contact between the several balloons as they are 4swayed toV and fro in iiight. In order to provide for this contingency, I prefer -to shield oneside of each of the balloons, as

by a felt or other comparatively tenacious sheathing 20, which is turned toward the wind and which when it is desired to lower the balloon is turned inward to protect the balloons when they are brought in contact over the immediate center of the basket, as in the act of lowering the device. When the aeronaut desires to turn the balloons or air-bags for any purpose, it is simply necessary to rotate the heads 13 to the desired extent and to secure them in their adj usted positions upon the stems 12, as by set-screws 21,`and the sleeves 11 are likewise secured in their adjusted positions upon the balloon-rail by means of setscrews or other suitable securing devices.

In connection with the device described it may also be desirable to employ a drag-rope 22, depending through an aperture 23 in the bottom of the net, and to the lower extremity of which is secured a weight designed to be IOO let down from the basket to act as a point of resistance, in relation to which the balloons and wing or sail surfaces are designed to be arranged to produce the desired results.Y

While the foregoing embodiment of my invention appears at this time to be preferable, I do not desire to limit myself to the details of construction shown and described, but reserve the right to change, modify, or-vary them at will within the scope of my invention. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters y Patent, is-

l. The combination with a basket, of a balloon-rail surrounding the same, a pluralityv of 1 balloon-brackets adjustably mounted upon the rail, and balloons connected with said brackets, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a basket, of a balloon-rail surrounding the same, balloonbrackets adj ustably mounted upon the rail, rotatably-adjustable heads carried by said brackets, and balloons secured to the heads, v

substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

E. S. DAvIs, LoUIs KEEsE. 

